Image of Dr Nadine Leese

Dr Nadine Leese

Humanities and Social Science

Faculty of Arts Professional and Social Studies

Email: N.Leese@ljmu.ac.uk

Telephone: 0151 904 1473

Languages

English
German

Degrees

2012, University of Hull, United Kingdom, Ph.D. in English Literature
2008, University of Salford, United Kingdom, BA (Hons) English Literature with English Language

Certifications

2014, Higher Education Academy, United Kingdom, Fellow

Academic appointments

Reader in Women’s & Gender Studies, Research Institute for Literature & Cultural History, LJMU, 2021 - present
External Examiner, English, University of Wolverhampton, 2021 - 2024
External Examiner, English, Bournemouth University, 2015 - 2019
(Senior) Lecturer in English Literature & Cultural History, Research Institute for Literature & Cultural History, LJMU, 2012 - 2021

Highlighted publications

Leese N. 2025. [Monograph] The Victorian Widow: A Literary & Cultural History Liverpool University Press. Liverpool Author Url

Muller N, Blackburn L, Davenport P. 2023. The War Widows Quilt (Second Edition)

Muller N. 2022. How to Blog about your research Doing Research Online Sage DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url

Muller N. 2020. Deceit, Deservingness, and Destitution: Able-Bodied Widows and the New Poor Law Journal of Victorian Culture, DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url

Muller N. 2020. Desperately Funny: Victorian Widows and the Comical Misfortunes of Husband Hunting Journal of Gender Studies, 29 :926-936 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url

Muller N. 2016. Feminism’s Family Drama: Female Genealogies, Feminist Historiography, and Kate Walbert’s A Short History of Women Feminist Theory: an international interdisciplinary journal, 18 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url

Muller N. 2015. [Radio Broadcast] Women on Their Own: Widows in Britain, Now & Then Publisher Url

Muller N. 2012. Dead Husbands & Deviant Women: Investigating the Neo-Victorian Detective Widow Clues: a journal of detection, 30 :99-109

Muller N. 2009. Not My Mother’s Daughter: Matrilinealism, Third-Wave Feminism and Neo-Victorian Fiction Neo-Victorian Studies, 2 :109-136

Books (authored)

Leese N. 2025. [Monograph] The Victorian Widow: A Literary & Cultural History Liverpool University Press. Liverpool Author Url

Muller N, Blackburn L, Davenport P. 2023. The War Widows Quilt (Second Edition)

Chapters

Muller N. 2022. How to Blog about your research Doing Research Online Sage DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url

Gwynne J, Muller N. 2013. Introduction: Postfeminism and Contemporary Hollywood Cinema Gwynne J, Muller N. Postfeminism and Contemporary Hollywood Cinema Palgrave Macmillan. Basingstoke DOI

Muller N. 2012. Selling Sugar: The (Feminist) Politics of Sex Work in Michel Faber’s The Crimson Petal and the White Gwynne J, Poon A. Sexuality and Contemporary Literature :39-60 Cambria Press. Amherst, NY

Muller N. 2012. Sexual F(r)ictions: Pornography in Neo-Victorian Women's Fiction Cooper K, Short E. The Female Figure in Contemporary Historical Fiction Palgrave Macmillan. Basingstoke 9780230302785 DOI Publisher Url

Muller N. 2012. Selling Sugar: The (Feminist) Politics of Sex Work in Michel Faber’s The Crimson Petal and the White Poon A, Gwynne J. Cambria Press

Journal article

Muller N. 2020. Deceit, Deservingness, and Destitution: Able-Bodied Widows and the New Poor Law Journal of Victorian Culture, DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url

Muller N. 2020. Desperately Funny: Victorian Widows and the Comical Misfortunes of Husband Hunting Journal of Gender Studies, 29 :926-936 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url

Muller N. 2016. Feminism’s Family Drama: Female Genealogies, Feminist Historiography, and Kate Walbert’s A Short History of Women Feminist Theory: an international interdisciplinary journal, 18 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url

Muller N, Parsons JE. 2014. Introduction: The Male Body in Victorian Literature & Culture Nineteenth-Century Contexts, 36 :303-306 DOI Author Url Publisher Url

Muller N, O'Callaghan C. 2013. Feminisms The Year's Work in Critical and Cultural Theory, 21 DOI Publisher Url

Muller N. 2012. Review: Liedeke Plate, Transforming Memories in Contemporary Women's Writing (2010) Contemporary Women's Writing, Publisher Url

Muller N. 2012. Dead Husbands & Deviant Women: Investigating the Neo-Victorian Detective Widow Clues: a journal of detection, 30 :99-109

Muller N, Llewellyn M. 2011. Introduction: Feminisms, Sex and the Body Muller N, Llewellyn M. Journal of Gender Studies, 20 :315-319

Muller N, Llewellyn M. 2011. Feminisms, sex and the body Journal of Gender Studies, 20 :315-319 DOI Publisher Url

Muller N. 2009. Not My Mother’s Daughter: Matrilinealism, Third-Wave Feminism and Neo-Victorian Fiction Neo-Victorian Studies, 2 :109-136

Muller N. 2009. Hystoriographic Metafiction: Victorian Narratives of Madness and Women’s Mental Health in 21st-Century British Fiction Gender Forum: an internet platform for gender and women's studies, 25 :np

Books (edited)

2017. War Widows' Stories: A Collection of Oral History Interviews Muller N, McDaid A. LJMU. Liverpool

2013. Postfeminism and Contemporary Hollywood Cinema Gwynne J, Muller N. Palgrave Macmillan. Basingstoke DOI Publisher Url

Internet publication

Muller N. 2016. "I'm Scared: German Academic in the UK on the Brexit Vote" Publisher Url

Muller N. 2014. Mental health issues in academia: stories are not cries of the privileged Publisher Url

Film

2016. [Film] Women in Weeds: Victorian Widows

Other

Muller N. 2015. [Radio Broadcast] Women on Their Own: Widows in Britain, Now & Then Publisher Url

Muller N. 2015. [Radio Broadcast] An Exception to Every Rule: The Victorian Widow Publisher Url

Exhibition

Muller N. The War Widows Quilt: An Armed Forces Day Exhibition

Muller N. The War Widows' Quilt (Queen's House, Greenwich)

Leese N. The War Widows Quilt: A Remembrance Exhibition

Leese N. The War Widows Quilt: An International Women's Day Exhibition

Highlighted activities

Other invited event:

Swedish Defence University, Invited research seminar for the military history section., War Widows Stories: Reflections on War’s Forgotten Women, Military Welfare, & Participatory Historical Methods. 2023

University of Sheffield, Sheffield Doctoral Academy Conference, Keynote: “Knowledge Is Power: Changing Academia One PhD at a Time. 2016

University of Exeter, Workshop early-career researchers organised by the Researcher Development Uni at the University of Exeter., Workshop: “Academic Career Development for Early-Career Researchers”. 2016

King's College London, Early-Career Academics in English Studies, Study Day, Invited Talk: "Early-Career Academics & Mental Health". 2016

University of Liverpool, Invited talk to the delegates of the international conference for university presses organised by Liverpool University Press., Invited Talk: “Writing for Survival: Publishing & Precarity in the Lives of Early-Career Researchers”. 2016

Brunel University, Workshop for the Graduate School at Brunel University, Workshop: "Beyond the Viva Voce: Life & Career after Your PhD". 2016

University of Leicester, Supporting Mental Health & Wellbeing of Postgraduate Students Conference. Organised by the UK Council for Graduate Education, Invited Talk: "Anxious Minds: Fostering Mental Health in Academia:. 2015

University of Kent (Graduate School), Invited half-day workshop., Workshop: ‘The New Academic: Digital Identities & Postgraduate Research’. 2015

University of Liverpool, Invited seminar., Seminar: “Digital Integrity: Negotiating Academia, Social Media, & Professional Identities”, Re/Search in the Digital Age. 2014

University of Birmingham, Roles: 3rd Annual Postgraduate Gender & Sexuality Conference, Poster + CFP: http://groles.wordpress.com/roles-gender-and-sexuality-conference/, Keynote: "A Queer & Dangerous Presence: The Widow in British Literature & Culture, 1900-2000". 2013

Conference presentation:

Oral presentation, University College Dublin, Military Welfare History Network Conference, War Widows Stories: Women, Welfare, & Conflict in Post-War Britain. 2023

Research Grants Awarded:

Duration of research project: 1 year 6 months, Grant value (£): 242,124.00, Arts & Humanities Research Council, Leadership Fellow (War Widows' Stories). 2018

Duration of research project: 12 months, Grant value (£): 14,719.50, British Academy Rising Star Engagement Award, Rising Star Engagement Award (War Widows' Stories). 2018

Duration of research project: 1 year 3 months, Grant value (£): 9800, Heritage Lottery Fund, Sharing Heritage Award (War Widows' Stories). 2016

Conference organisation:

Co-Organiser, Women Writing Pleasure, http://www.womenwritingpleasure.com/. 2015

Co-Organiser (with Dr Lucinda Matthews-Jones, LJMU; Dr Jonathan Cranfield, LJMU), Neo-Victorian Cultures: The Victorians Today, http://www.neovictoriancultures.org.uk/. 2013

Award:

BBC / AHRC New Generation Thinker, http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2015/r3-new-gen-thinkers. 2015

Teaching qualification:

Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA). 2014

Membership of professional bodies:

Women’s History Network (WHN), Ordinary Member, http://www.womenshistorynetwork.org/. 2011

Feminist and Women's Studies Association (UK & Ireland, Ordinary Member, http://www.fwsa.org.uk/. 2009

Contemporary Women's Writing Assocation (CWWA), Ordinary Member, http://www.the-cwwa.org/. 2008

British Association for Victorian Studies (BAVS), Ordinary Member, http://www.bavsuk.org/index.htm. 2007

Media Coverage:

Gibney, Elizabeth, “Research Intelligence: The Doctor Will Advise You Now”, Times Higher Education (24 May 2012), pp.22-23 .

Free Thinking (BBC Radio 3): "New Generation Thinkers 2015 Launch at the Hay Festival" (28 May 2015) .

War Widows' Stories on BBC Radio 4 Woman's Hour (11 November 2016) .

Professional activities

Other invited event:

Swedish Defence University, Invited research seminar for the military history section., War Widows Stories: Reflections on War’s Forgotten Women, Military Welfare, & Participatory Historical Methods. 2023

University of Birmingham, Workshop for 30 postgraduates and early-career researchers at the Graduate School at the University of Birmingham., Workshop: “The New Academic: Developing a Career in Academia”. 2017

University of Greenwich, Workshop for 25 postgraduates at the University of Greenwich, organised by the Research Support Office., Workshop: “Social Media for PhD Researchers”. 2017

University of Manchester, Workshop PhD researchers at the AHRC North West Doctoral Centre Conference at the University of Manchester, Workshop: “Digital Strategies: Social Media for Researchers”. 2016

University of Sheffield, Sheffield Doctoral Academy Conference, Keynote: “Knowledge Is Power: Changing Academia One PhD at a Time. 2016

University of Exeter, Workshop early-career researchers organised by the Researcher Development Uni at the University of Exeter., Workshop: “Academic Career Development for Early-Career Researchers”. 2016

University of Exeter, Workshop for postgraduate and early-career researchers at the University of Exeter., Workshop: “Social Media for Researchers”. 2016

King's College London, Early-Career Academics in English Studies, Study Day, Invited Talk: "Early-Career Academics & Mental Health". 2016

University of Lincoln, Workshop for the University of Lincoln's Women in Academic Postgraduate Network., Workshop: “Academia & Social Media”. 2016

University of Liverpool, Invited talk to the delegates of the international conference for university presses organised by Liverpool University Press., Invited Talk: “Writing for Survival: Publishing & Precarity in the Lives of Early-Career Researchers”. 2016

University of Kent, Workshop delivered for the Graduate School at the University of Kent, Workshop: “Academia & Social Media”. 2016

Brunel University, Workshop for the Graduate School at Brunel University, Workshop: "Beyond the Viva Voce: Life & Career after Your PhD". 2016

Brunel University, Workshop for the Graduate School at Brunel University, Workshop: "The Viva Voce". 2016

University of Hull, Department of English Research Seminar, Research Seminar: "Exceptional Women: Widows in Victorian Literature & Culture". 2015

University of Leicester, Supporting Mental Health & Wellbeing of Postgraduate Students Conference. Organised by the UK Council for Graduate Education, Invited Talk: "Anxious Minds: Fostering Mental Health in Academia:. 2015

Bournemouth University, Invited research seminar., Research Seminar: ‘Material Girls: Gender, Objects & Materiality in Neo-Victorian Fiction’, Narrative Research Group. 2015

University of Kent (Graduate School), Invited half-day workshop., Workshop: ‘The New Academic: Digital Identities & Postgraduate Research’. 2015

University of Liverpool, Invited seminar., Seminar: “Digital Integrity: Negotiating Academia, Social Media, & Professional Identities”, Re/Search in the Digital Age. 2014

St. Anne’s College, University of Oxford, Invited research talk., Research Seminar: ‘The New Academic: On Politics, Integrity, Happiness, & Success’, Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Discussion Group. 2014

Durham University, Invited talk for PhDs and early-career researchers., Workshop: ‘Careers in Gender & Sexuality Studies’, Centre for Sex, Gender & Sexuality (CSGS) Summer School. 2014

Coventry University (Faculty of Computing & Engineering), Invited keynote., Keynote: ‘Early-Career Researchers & the Future of Academia’, REF2020: Achieving Excellence in Research Conference. 2014

Women’s Research Network, University of East Anglia, Invited talk on women, academia, and social media., Research Seminar: ‘Making Connections Through Social Media’. 2014

Department of English, Durham University, Invited research talk., Research Seminar: ‘The Widow in British Literature & Culture’. 2014

University of Kent, Invited half-day workshop on the use of social media in academia., Workshop: ‘Social Media & Academia’, Early-Career Researcher Network. 2014

University of Oxford, Transforming Postgraduate Research: Engaging with the Digital World, Invited Workshop Leader: "Digital Engagement & Social Media". 2013

Working Class Movement Library, Salford, Issues in the Digital Humanities: A Key Skills Package for Postgraduate and Early Career Researchers, Invited Workshop Leader: "Digitising Women's History: Potentials & Challenges". 2013

University of Birmingham, Roles: 3rd Annual Postgraduate Gender & Sexuality Conference, Poster + CFP: http://groles.wordpress.com/roles-gender-and-sexuality-conference/, Keynote: "A Queer & Dangerous Presence: The Widow in British Literature & Culture, 1900-2000". 2013

London, British Sociological Association Postgraduate Forum, Invited Seminar Talk, "Tweet to Survive: Social Media for Postgraduates and Early-Career Researcher. 2013

Durham University (Ustinov College), Cafe Politique: Feminism, Invited Seminar Talk: "Everyday Value(s): Mapping the Feminist Landscapes of 21st-Century Britain". 2013

University of Hull, Literature, Film, and Popular Cultures Postgraduate Conference, Keynote: ‘“I Write This Sitting in the Kitchen Sink”: Managing Chapters, Chances and Jobs in (Post-)Doctoral Life’. 2012

Conference presentation:

Oral presentation, University College Dublin, Military Welfare History Network Conference, War Widows Stories: Women, Welfare, & Conflict in Post-War Britain. 2023

Other Professional Activity:

Review Panel Member, British Academy Public Engagement Funding Scheme. 2023

Member of LJMU Armed Forces Steering Group. 2023

Conference organisation:

Organiser, The "I" Word: Research Impact in the Arts & Humanities, http://www.warwidowsstories.org.uk/news/the-i-word-research-impact-in-the-arts-humanities/. 2020

Co-Organiser, Women Writing Pleasure, http://www.womenwritingpleasure.com/. 2015

Co-Organiser (with Dr Lucinda Matthews-Jones, LJMU; Dr Jonathan Cranfield, LJMU), Neo-Victorian Cultures: The Victorians Today, http://www.neovictoriancultures.org.uk/. 2013

Co-Organiser, Time and Space in Contemporary Women’s Writing, http://pgcwwn.wordpress.com/events/time-space/. 2011

Co-Organiser, The Futures of Feminism: New Directions in Feminist, Gender and Women’s Studies, http://futuresoffeminism.wordpress.com/. 2011

Co-Organiser, Demystifying Public Engagement: Gender and Sexuality Studies Beyond the Academy, http://www.nadinemuller.org.uk/conferences/demystifying/. 2011

Co-Organiser, Theory and Practice in Contemporary Women’s Writing, http://pgcwwn.wordpress.com/events/theory-and-practice/. 2010

Co-Organiser, A Dead End?: Feminism Within & Beyond the Academy, http://www.nadinemuller.org.uk/conferences/dead-end/. 2010

Co-Organiser, Writing Bodies/ Reading Bodies in Contemporary Women’s Writing, http://pgcwwn.wordpress.com/events/writing-bodies-reading-bodies/. 2009

Media Coverage:

ITV London News Feature (11-11-19) 2019

Daily Express Double-Page Spread on War Widows' Quilt (9 November 2019) 2019

Gibney, Elizabeth, “Research Intelligence: The Doctor Will Advise You Now”, Times Higher Education (24 May 2012), pp.22-23

Ryder, Nathan, “Episode 9: Dr Nadine Muller”, Podcast Interview, "Viva Survivors: Podcasts About Postgraduate Research, the Viva, and Life after the Ph.D.", Episode 9: Dr Nadine Muller (October 2012)

Free Thinking (BBC Radio 3): "New Generation Thinkers 2015 Launch at the Hay Festival" (28 May 2015)

War Widows' Stories on BBC Radio 4 Woman's Hour (11 November 2016)

Claire Shaw and Lucy Ward, “Dark Thoughts: Why Mental Illness Is on the Rise in Academia”, The Guardian (6 March 2014)

Alison Garden, “10 Ways to Make the Most of Your Time as a PhD Student”, The Guardian (25 November 2014)

Nadine Muller, “Mental health issues in academia: ‘stories are not cries of the privileged’”, The Guardian (16 April 2014)

Claire Shaw, “How to Help Ensure Students’ Wellbeing”, The Guardian (1 October 2014)

Elizabeth Gibney, “Ph.D. Students 'Embarrassed' to Be Self-Funded”, Times Higher Education (2 May 2013), p. 8

Live Q&A: ‘Securing a Job after your PhD’, Jobs.ac.uk, 21 January 2014

Award:

Liverpool John Moores University, Impact Team Award for Impact on Society, Culture, & People. 2018

Liverpool John Moores University, Vice Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Social & Economic Engagement. 2018

BBC / AHRC New Generation Thinker, http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2015/r3-new-gen-thinkers. 2015

Liverpool John Moores University, LJMU Curriculum Enhancement Award, http://www.social-media-skills.org/. 2014

Research Grants Awarded:

Duration of research project: 1 year 6 months, Grant value (£): 242,124.00, Arts & Humanities Research Council, Leadership Fellow (War Widows' Stories). 2018

Duration of research project: 12 months, Grant value (£): 14,719.50, British Academy Rising Star Engagement Award, Rising Star Engagement Award (War Widows' Stories). 2018

Duration of research project: 1 year 3 months, Grant value (£): 9800, Heritage Lottery Fund, Sharing Heritage Award (War Widows' Stories). 2016

Duration of research project: 18 months, Grant value (£): 43,303, AHRC Collaborative Skills Development Scheme, Prof. Lucie Armitt (University of Salford), Dr Fiona Tolan (LJMU), Prof. Gina Whisker (University of Brighton), Dr Susan Watkins (Leeds Metropolitan University), Prof. Clare Hanson (Southampton University), Contemporary Women's Writing PGR and ECR Development Series. 2013

Industrial connections:

Imperial War Museums, War Widows' Stories, http://www.iwm.org/. 2017

Royal British Legion, War Widows' Stories, http://www.britishlegion.org.uk/. 2017

Royal Museums Greenwich, War Widows' Stories, http://www.rmg.co.uk/. 2017

National Memorial Arboretum, War Widows' Stories, http://www.thenma.org.uk/. 2017

War Widows' Association of Great Britain, War Widows' Stories, http://www.warwidows.org/. 2013

External committees:

Arts & Humanities Research Council, Member (Academic), AHRC Peer-Review College (Academic). 2015

Open Library of Humanities, Member, Early-Career Researchers Forum. 2013

Contemporary Women's Writing Association, Ordinary Member, Executive Committee, http://www.the-cwwa.org/about/executive-committee/. 2012

Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC), Ordinary Member, Research Careers and Training Network, http://www.ahrc.ac.uk/Pages/Home.aspx. 2012

Feminist & Women's Studies Association (UK & Ireland), Publicity Officer, Executive Committee, http://www.fwsa.org.uk/. 2012

Teaching qualification:

Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA). 2014

Editorial boards:

Editorial Board Member, Journal of Gender Studies, http://www.tandfonline.com/action/aboutThisJournal?show=editorialBoard&journalCode=cjgs20. 2012

Membership of professional bodies:

Women’s History Network (WHN), Ordinary Member, http://www.womenshistorynetwork.org/. 2011

Feminist and Women's Studies Association (UK & Ireland, Ordinary Member, http://www.fwsa.org.uk/. 2009

Contemporary Women's Writing Assocation (CWWA), Ordinary Member, http://www.the-cwwa.org/. 2008

British Association for Victorian Studies (BAVS), Ordinary Member, http://www.bavsuk.org/index.htm. 2007

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